HE HAS had to be patient, but slowly Ryan Taylor is forcing his way into Brian Little's plans.

A regular starter until the new manager arrived, the 19-year-old was unable to find a place in Little's favoured 3-5-2 formation.

Taylor, who is able to operate at right-back or in right midfield, had to defer to the more experienced Sean Connelly in the wing-back role.

But in the last two fixtures the Kirkby player has been given his chance thanks to unexpected events on the pitch - and Little has taken notice.

Taylor came off the bench in the 2-2 draw at Chesterfield, when Danny Harrison's sending off led Rovers to switch to a four-man midfield, and he almost secured all three points with a late free-kick that was clawed away by keeper Carl Muggleton.

Against Brighton on Saturday, when he replaced the injured Tyrone Loran after just seven minutes, Taylor did prove the match-winner, slamming home from the penalty spot in the final 10 minutes.

With Loran expected to be missing for the forthcoming games with Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday and Connelly deputising for the Dutchman in central defence, Taylor now has a chance to secure a regular starting position.

He said: "It's not nice sitting on the bench week in, week out. You don't want other people to get knocks, but when it comes you have to take your chance.

"I made my debut as a wing- back away at Hartlepool. We carried it on for a while then went to a basic 4-4-2. The gaffer has come in and worked on 3-5-2. He told me he was pleased with me at Chesterfield. To come on against

Brighton and get the gaffer three points was nice.

"I don't know how to describe myself. I came on at Hornchurch up front, played at Chesterfield as a wideman and came on against Brighton as a wing-back. I like being thought of as a versatile player and being part of the gaffer's plans. I hope now to keep a first-team spot."

Little revealed he had wanted Taylor to take Tranmere's first penalty against Brighton. Skipper Mickey Mellon took responsibility instead, but was denied by a fine save from Ben Roberts.

The manager said: "I was shouting from the dug-out for Ryan to take the first penalty. That's a compliment to him. He does strike a great ball, as we saw at Chesterfield with a free-kick from 25 yards and it was a great save from Carl Muggleton.

"We have missed one or two penalties this season and I felt Ryan was the right person to take the first one. Thankfully we got another chance and from Ryan's point of view it shows a good attitude for a young lad to be able to take it."

Taylor, who missed the last penalty he took in the Carling Cup shoot-out with Nottingham Forest, added: "I put the cross in and we got a penalty. I did think back to the Forest game and thought I would let someone else have a go. I went over to see who was taking it and Gary Jones got the ball off Iain Hume and said 'you take it'. I didn't say no.

"I was made up to get the winner. It was a great feeling. My family were there for the first time in a while because I've been on the bench."

Taylor's goal, his first of the season, lifted Tranmere to within five points of the play-offs.

He said: "To get three points against a team that is higher than you and looking for automatic promotion, then the feeling of winning is great. The games are coming thick and fast now and that's good. You don't want a break, you want to keep your confidence and keep working hard."